Sound recorder and reproducer



6 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. J. SMITH Filed Dec. l9, 1936 Aug. l, 1939.

Aug. 1, 1939. H. J. sMlTH sounn RECORDER AND RRPRODUCRR' Filed Dec. 9, 1936 v 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 151 15o 13E 66 6E 161 mi@ @www Wma@ Aug. 1, 1939. H. J. SMITH SOUND RECORDER AND REPRODUCER Filed Dec.`

9, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet AS D Harold? (f5/725% Aug. l, 1939. H. J. SMITH 2,167,817

SUND RECORDER AND REPRODUCER Filed Deo. 9, 1936 5 ShBetS-Sheet 4 Aug. l, 1939. H. .n. sMlTH 2,167,817

SOUND RECORDER AND REPRODUCER Filed Dec. 9, 193e e sheets-smet 5 Aug. l, 1939. H. J. SMITH SOUND RECORDER AND REPRODUCER Filed Dec. 9, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 jvenf i 6517010@ d 5 7711171/ reenter Aug. i, 1939 .PATENT FMCE soonn nncomma AND nsrnonoona Harold l..

Smith, Riverside, lll., assigner to Technical Research Corporation, Chicago, El., a corporation ot helaware Application December 9, 1936, Serial No. 115,007

ii claims. (or. avi-in This invention relates in generall to a multiple sound recorder, and inparticular to a combined l multi-sound recorder and reproducer for use' in `reporting court proceedings.

s It is an object oi applicants invention to provide a simplined and inexpensive construction for a continuously :recording sound recorder, more particularly adapted for reporting court proceedings.

lo Zit is a further object of appllcantis invention to provide a combined sound recorder and sound reproducer wherein by simple manipulation of a control mechanism the sound reproducer may be rendered edective to reproduce any selected porld tion or portions oi the sound previously recorded'. lit is a iurtherobject of applicants invention to provide a combined sound recorder and sound reproducer having means for "instantaneously rendering the reproducer edective to repeat any 5g@ selected portion oi the previously recorded sound.

in the continuous reel reproducers ot the prior art with which applicant is familiar, it has been customary to position the reproducer upon a base whose plane is angularly inclined with respect mi, to the plane oi the reel in order to reproduce from the loop portion of the iilm. The loop portion oi the iilrn is that portion which joins the inside and' outside turns of the continuous reel. This positioning of the reproducer has been unsatisfacao tory tor a number oi reasons, chief among which are the following.J Complicated apparatus has been required to direct the loop portion of the nlm irom the reel tothe reproducer and to provide the necessary. tension for said portion ot the nlm. ln such an arrangement, the loop portion of the nlm is necessarily drawn irom the reel at an angle with respect to the plane oi said reel. The consequent twisting ci thenlm creates torsional strains which prevent the acim curate reproduction oi the sound on the film, and,

it the degree of tension upon the nlm is not constantly maintained within very narrow limits, the film becomes lrinked and eventually cracks at the point of twist. It 1s accordingly an object i5 oi applicants invention to eliminate these defects in the film feeding means oi the prior art devices and to provide a film feeding means for continuous reel reproducers and/or recorders which shall be simple in structure and light in weight. 50 lt is another object of this invention toprovide a multi-track sound-on-lm recorder wherein mlsalinement of the cutter oi the recorder and the groove in the film-supporting base-in which groove the cutter operates-shall be absolutely as prevented.

it is another object oiithe invention to provide in a multi-track, sound-on-hlm recorder and/or reproducer, automatic means ior relatively shifting the iilm and recorder or reproducer from tract: to track of the nlm, which means shall be t reliable and noiseless in operation and simple in construction.

A- further object oi applicants invention is to provide means ior lindicating the track upon which a'recording is being made. l@

It is a further object ot the invention to pro- Y vide in a nlm feeding and driving device :for sound recorders and reproducers; means for longitudinally tensioning the iilm, which means shall supply a constant retarding iorce and shall be noisel5 less and reliable in operation.

vlit vis an object oi. applicant"s invention to provide a portable sound recorder and/orreproducer.

lt is another object oi the invention to provide in a multi-unit sound recorder and/or reproducer, t@ means for selectively operating and controlling the units separately or simultaneously, as desired.

.d further object ot the invention is to provide a mounting for a sound recorder and/or reproducer oi such construction that the recorder or 25 reproducer will not be subjected to the vibrations of the driving means.

another object oi the invention is to'provide a unit mounting ior the recorder or reproducer means and :tor the nlm driving and tensioning '30 means of such construction that said means 'can be readily replaced by a unit oi similar construction..

' Other and further objects and advantages oi the invention will be apparent from the following d5; description.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a selected embodiment oi this invention and the views therein are as follows.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodydo ing applicants invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section talren along the line i--i oi lilg. l.

Fig. 3 is a vertical elevation partly in section taken along the line t-i of Fig. 2. i5

Fig. d is a vertical section taken along the line d-I of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 isa horizontal section talrenv along the line tv-Soi Fig. d.

' Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken along the no line G ti oi Fig. 3.

Fig. "lis a horizontal section taken along the line 'l-l oi Fig. It.V

Fig. 8 is a vertical elevation partly in section I taken along the line 8-8 of Fig.' il. as

Fig. 9 is a vertical detail elevation showing change-over mechanism in operated condition.

Fig. 10 is a partial' vertical section through the recorder head and base showing the parts parts shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of theV adjustable casting upon which the recorder head is adapted to be mounted.

Fig. 1'5 is a perspective view of the casting on which the adjustable casting in'Fig. 14 is adapted to be mounted.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a continuous reel with which applicants device is intended to operate.

Fig. 17 is a schematic circuit showing the electrical association oi the elements of applicants sound recorder and reproducer.

Fig. 18 is a vertical elevation of theV opposite side of the machine from that illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of a portion of applicants selective control means.

'As shown inthe drawings, a support or housing A for a recorder and reproducer comprises vertical side walls i and 2; front and rear walls 25; a horizontal bottom plate 3; and side wail supporting bars 4. Mounted within openings 5 and 6 in the side walls I and 2, as best shown in Figs. l and 18, are plates 'I and `8. 'Ihese plates 1 and 8 are resiliently mounted by springs 9 upon the side walls I and 2. The springs 9 are each fastenedyat one end to a rearwardly extending lug I0 formed integrally with, or secured to, the plate 1 or 8, and the opposite end of each spring is adjustably secured by a screw I I to a threaded lug vI2 formed integrally with, or secured to, the side Walls I and 2, asbest shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Upon each of the plates 1 and 8 are formed or mounted, in a manner to be later described, a recorder I3, a reproducer, a film directing and recording anvil I5, a tension and change-over control roller I6, ya drive roller I1 and a pressure roller I8.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 18, a plurality of reel supporting and film guiding idler rollers I9 is secured to the side Walls Iand 2. These idler rollers I9 are equi-distantly spaced around the.

circumference of an imaginary.` circle of such diameter that the rollers I9 provide a reel supporting frame of the desired size.

A continuous reel or record blank 20 of film 20 may comprise anysuitable film stock, but is preferably of a cellulose acetate stock, such as forms the base for the ordinary emulsion treated photographic. film. The reel 20' is formed by Winding one or more turns of the desired diameter and by connecting the inner and outer turns in any suit- `able, conventional manner to formv a continuous reel having a loop portion connecting said inner and outer turns. This continuous reel is mounted upon the rollers i9, and the loop portion connecting the inner and outer turns of the reel passes around the tension roller i6 from the roller I9 immediately above and adjacent to saidtension roller. From the tension roller I5 the illm is directed upwardly and over the recording anvil iR4 and from the anvil the film passes downwardly around the drive roller I1 and between that `roller and the pressure roller IB. FWD! ille the pressure roller I8 the nlm returns to the outer turn of the reel. 'I'he portion of the film between the pressure roller Il and the outer turn of the reel is of sufiicient length to permit it'to hang loosely and without tension. For retaining the reel in position upon the rollers I9, diametrically disposed pins 2| are provided. These pins 2| are carried in brackets 22, to which they are connected in any usual and convenient manner perniitting their ready removal for the insertion of the reel 20 between said brackets.

From the description thus far set forth it would be apparent that applicant has provided a compact and simple structure for a continuous reel, multi-unit sound recorder and reproducer wherein the recorder and reproducer are mounted within the reel and wherein the film is drawn from the reel along a path which lies'wholly within the plane ot the reel.

A motor 22, Figs. 1 and 2, which is connected to the driving roller I1 in a manner later to be described, is mounted within the housing and-supported upon a pair of the side wall supporting bars 4. 'I'he operating shaft 23 of a selective clutch and. switch control mechanism, indicated generally bythe numeral 24 in Fig, .19, extends through the front face plate 25 of the housing, and carries at its outer end, within a recessed portion of the plate 25, an operating handle 25. An indicator 21, mounted in any suitable way on the inner side `of the face plate 25 behind an opening 28 therein, serves to indicate the number oi the sound track upon which a recording is then being made. by means of the tension roller I5-as will later appear.

'Ihe sound recorder and reproducer are mountedv for step-by-step-movement transversely oi' the film and its supporting anvil, as best shown in Figs. 2 to 10, 14 and 15. As best shown in Fig. 15, the resiliently mounted plate 1, which forms the support for the sound recorderand reproducer, comprises a vertical wall portion having a recessed or dished out portion 29 for receiving the mounting arm 30 and the sound head 3i of the sound reproducer I4, as best shown in Fig. 6. The film supporting anvil or base I5 is formed integrally with the plate 1 and comprises a body portion 32 projecting horizontally from the front face of said plate. A body portion or support 33 projects horizontally from the opposite face of said plate in substantial alinement with said body portion 32 for receivingand supporting the casting 34, Fig. 14, upon which are adapted to be mounted the reccrder I3 and reproducer I4. The body portion 32 of the anvil I5 is substantially semi-cylindrical inA shape and has a portion 35 forming a boss. The body portion 33 is substantially rectangular in shape and extends laterally from a centrally recessed portion 36 of the plate 1. The boss 35 and body member 33 are drilled in such relation to the surface oi' the body member 32 that in the drilling operation the surface of the body member 32 is cracked to provide a narrow slot 31. The upper portion of the surface of the body member 32 is .then milled or filed to provide a flat surface beneath the stylus of the recorder and the upper surface of the body member 33 is milled to provide slot 38 in alinement with the slot 31 but of greater width than said 'Ihis indicator is operated dicasi? to slidingly receive the casting 3 4 upon which the recorder and reproducer areV mounted. Because of the difference in width between the slots 38 and 31, shoulders 5| are formed at the intersection of these slots.

The casting 34 comprises a centrally bored'cylindrical portion or tube 39, an opstanding -portion or block 40, and a guide portion or neck 4i connecting the upstanding portion to the cylir- '34 having been inserted into the opening provided in the body members 02 and 30, a substantially semicylindrical plate M, which vhas a diameter slightly greater than the diameter oi the semicylindrioal body member it, is fastened in any convenient manner, as by screws di, to the body member it. This plate it is provided with a circular 4opening in registry with the'openine tt in the body member t2 for permittine the tube 39 oi' the casting 34 to pass therethrouch. it thin annular strip dit is secured to the surface oi the body member 32 adjacent the upstandinu portion ci the plate l. This strip it iorms, with the plate 44 and the surlace oi the body portion dill dit

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it of the anvil l5, a channel for supportinu and directing the film in its passage beneath the ren corder'I it. The strip di and the shoulders di, iormed by theintcrsectionoi the slots il and td, cooperate with the guide portion ill oi the casting it to provide a means ior limiting the outward movement of the cestino it relative to the plate 'l. d central bore or aperture eirtends throughout the creator portion oi the tube and connects with a bored and threaded porn tion or aperture dl oi lesser diameter than the diameter ot the bore it, the tl'u'eaded aperture tl ertendinu trom the bore til to the inner edne oi the tube The threaded aperture ill is adapted to cooperate with the threaded portion oi a shalt it which is supported in a split bearinn bt which is iastened to the outer vertical tace oi the body member til in any convenient manner, as byscrews itil (itin. d). Iiihe bearinyj bi rotatably eneaees the shait it between a pair oi integrally iormed collars itt and the shai't entends thereirom a sumcient distance to provide a mounting` i'or a sproclret wheel The sprocket il is iastened to the entendinn end ot the shaft 50 tor rotation therewith by a set screw Upon rotation oi the sproclret til and shalt the casting it will be moved in and out with respect to the body members tt and it, and conseuuentiy the recorder lil and reproducer it, which are attached to the casting it, will be moved transversely oi the film 2d.

Within the bore of the tube it a rotatable shaft |00 is inserted and this .shalt entends within the tube 39 a distance slightly create/r than the Width ci the -body member-.32. Neat' its inner end the shaft i00v is provided :with a groove lill, the bottom oi the groove lill torniing a curved or cam surface whose diameter is substantially greater than the diameter ol the shaft |00. The tubular'portion 39 of the cantina di is providedI with a slot' |02 in registry with the groove |0| in the shaft |00, the slot l02 boina of such shape as to slidingly receive a film supporting member or cam follower |03. The supporting or cam follower member |03, best sho'wn in Fig. i3, is formed by cutting a section from a frustro conical block of the desired size along a pair of parallel vertical planes, to thereby provide a pair ofA longitudinally tapering circular side edges and a pair of vertical hat surfaces. The member M3 rests Within the groove 10| formed in the shaft |00 when that groove is in registry with the opening |02 in the tube 39. With the member |03 in its lowered position, the recorder is rendered inoperative to emboss upon the film the vibrations of the recording stylus. As the 'shaft |00 is rotated the eccentric or cam i'ormed by the bottom surface of the groove |0l and the surface oi the shaft forces the member or cam follower ili3 upwardly into the slot |02 and the upper surface |04 of the member I 03 maintains the iilm 20 in contact with the stylus oi the recorder. The upper surface Illit of the member lili is provided with intersecting grooves itt and ltd, the groove |00 being transverse of the him tb and the groove tilt extending longitudinally oi' said hlm. The groove tilt permits the recorder stylus to move laterally oi the film to emboss thereon the'sound modulations. longitudinal groove ltii, although not absolutely essential, may be somewhat less in depth than The` the uroove ldd and this groove permits the nlm ing end with a. control handle itil forming aready means for manipulating the shalt to raise and lowerthe member ldd to thereby control the recording operation and to determinev the contact pressure between the dim and the recording stylus. i y

"'llhe recorder it, which may be an electromagnetic recorder oi conventional structure, is mounted upon the iront lace oi the bloeit it, as by bolts throunh the bloeit til and the supporting? base oi the recorder. The usual protective houston, which may be slidably supported upon the base oivthe recorderi encloses the operation parts oi" said recorder.

ihe reproducer is mounted upon the casting itil in the iollowlng manner."- ni'he bloeit dit is provided with an odset arm bil, as best shown in idle. id, and the iront i'ace oi this arm carries a boss ill which is threaded to receive the threaded end oi a dried shaft bt. The' arm tt which supports the head tl oi the sound reproducer lit is provided at its upper end with a tubular ertension tb eiiteridinu` transversely oi the arm. The tubular entension it is mounted upon the shalt tt ior slidabie movement longitudinally oi said shaft. The outer end oi the shaitbt' is threaded to enuage the internalI threaded portion oi a cap screw du which is adapted to be rotated to adjust the position oi the reproducer ldwltb respect to the casting 3d. Between the rear oi' the tubular extension 59 and the boss di, a sprlnu tl encricles the shaft 50 and yieldably urges the extension b9 into contact with the cap screw it. hy rotating the cap screw 60 the reproducer it may be adjusted with ,respect to the recorder to repeat or "play back any desired portion of the previously recorded sound.

As best shown in`Fig. 2, the drive rollers l1 are loosely mounted on a shaft 6| which extends transversely oi the housing and is journaled in dit Siti

bearings 92 formed in the plates 1' and 9. Each roller I1 is provided with a polygonal core 94 which is centrally bored to receive the shaft 9| and is secured against movement longitudinally of the shaft by a set screw 93 which is provided with an enlarged head engaging the outer'face of the roller. The cores 34 may be of any desired polygonal shape and cross section, such as will rotatably secure the cores to the rollers, and each core 94 extends only partially of the width of the roller and is provided at 'its inner edg'e with a clutch-engaging tooth 99. Clutch members 33 are mounted on the shaft 9| behind the rollers I1 and are located in the dished-out portion 29 of the plates 1 and 3.' Each of the clutch members 99 is splined to the shaft 9| for rotation therewith and for slidable movement longitudinally of said shaft to permit the tooth I1'to engage the tooth Il of the core 94. The shaft 6I is restrained against longitudinal movement by engagement of shoulders formed by the enlarged central portion of the shaft with the bear'- ing members 82. Secured to the shaft 9i, be tween the plates`1 and 9, is a driving pulley 99 which is secured to said shaft for rotation therewith. A pulley 99, which is mounted upon a stub shaft 10,`is drivingly connected to the pulley 99 by a cable 1I. brackets 12 secured in any convenient manner to the housing and to the motor 22. To the end of the shaft of the motor 22 there is secured a gear 13 which meshes with a 'gear 14 mounted on the shaft 10.' The motor 22 is carried in end brackets 19 which are provided with laterally extending flanges 19. The flanges 19 are apertured to slidinglyreceive a plurality of bolts 11 which pass through the bars4 and between the flanges 19 andthe bars 4 there is interposed a `plurality of springs 19 which provide 'a resilient mounting for the brackets 15 and the motor 22.

For selectively controlling the clutch member 9B the mechanism shown in Fig; 19 is provided. This mechanism comprises a shaft 23 which is journaled in a boss 19 formed in the front wall.

25 and in brackets 90 andIlI, the brackets 90 and II being secured to the base 3 of the housing in any suitable and convenient manner.y Atits outer end the shaft 23 carries the handle 29 which is positioned within the recess in the front wall 29, as previously described. The shaft 23 carries at its end adjacent the inner side of the wall 425 an arm 92 which is pivotally connected to a transversely extending link 83. The link 83 is pivotally connected at its opposite ends to links I4 and 85 which extend parallel to the side walls I and 2 to which they are pivotaliy connected intermediate their ends by brackets 99 and 81. The opposite ends of the links 94 and 95 are connected to the clutch operating forks 88 and 89 by pivoted links 99 and 9I. 'I'he shaft 2t is connected to a shaft 92 journaled in brackets t@ and 8l and carries a switch Iarm 93, between the brackets and 8|, for a purpose later to descrised. The handle 29 is adapted to assi. any one of three positions whereby either or the clutch members 66 will engage the teeth $5 to drvingiy connect either or both of the drive rollers I1 to the shaft 6I.

Each of the drive rollers is provided with a friction face for frictionally driving the film from the inner turn of the reel to the outer turn of the reel. The pressure rollers I8, which maintain the film in frictional engagement with the faces of the drive rollers I1, are each loosely mounted ona shaft 94 which is journaled and supported in a The stubshaft 19 is journaled in bearing 99 formed on a lever 99. The lever 99 s iixedly secured to a pin 91 which is journaled in the plate 1. the pin 91 being offset relatively to the shaft 94 and extending inwardly of the inner face of the plate l1. Upon the extending end of the pin is secured an arm 33 to the outer end of which a spring 99 is secured, the other end of the spring 99 being secured to the plate 1. From this description it will be seen that the spring 99 exerts, through the arm 99 and lever 99, a certain pressure tending to force the roller I9 and the film 29, which is interposed vbetween the pressure and the driving rollers I1 and I9, in frictional engagement with the face of said drive roller.

The head 3i of the sound reproducer I4 rests against the nlm 29 at a point along the surface of the drive roller I1.

It is to be noted, that, since the shaft 9| is common to the two drive rollers said drive rollers will rotate in opposite directions as viewed from the outer side of each side wall of the housing. "I'he film '20 therefore passes over the rollers vI1 in opposite directions as shown in Figs. 1 and 18. The reproducers I4, Figs. 1 and 18, are consequently on opposite sides of the rollers I1. In

order that the reproducer I4, shown in Fig. 18',

may pass from its mounting shaft 5B 'to the opposite side of the roller I1, the arm 30 of that reproducer is provided with a bent extension IUI for that purpose. The pressure roller I3, in Fig. 18, is therefore mounted to the left of roller I1 and the'lm 29 passes over the pressure roller in a direction opposite from that in which it passesA over theroller in Fig. l. The straps |99, which surround the pressure rollers I9 and serve to guide theiilm, are oppositely directed in Figs. 1Y

in the plates 1 and 9. Each roller I9 is splined upon its shaft Illin a manner to permit a slight longitudinal movement of'said roller relative to the shaft, but to secure the roller to the shaft for rotation therewith. Between the inner face of each roller and its mounting plate, there is interposed a packing II2 of friction material for the purpose of retarding the rotation of the roller. Each roller is also provided with a friction surface to exert a retarding effort upon the film to thereby tension the same. An adjustment nut II3, threaded upon the` outer end of each shaft III, controls through the interposed washer II4 the longitudinal movementA of the roller I6 to thereby provide means for controlling the resisting force offered by the friction material II2.

The rollers I9 are rotated by the nlm 20 and y teeth of the ratchet. The arm II1 is fastened" in any convenient manner to a sprocket wheel IIB which is loosely mounted on the shaft IIIi and restrained against longitudinal movement by a set screw I2I which is threaded into the end of the shaft IIB. A'small sprocket wheel |20 is carried by sprocket wheel I I9. For retaining the dog IIS normally out of engagement `with the the circuit to the reproducer I4 shown at the top of Fig. 17.

If the handle 25 is then moved in a counterclockwise direction from the center position, contact will be made between switch arm |38 and contact |33 of switch |34. At the same time the switches |40 and |43 will be operated to break the connection between the contacts |39 and |4| and between contacts |42 and |44. The toggle switch |50 will be simultaneously operated to close the contacts |49 and I5|. The lower recorder I3 of Fig. 17 will then be connected to the recording amplifier in a circuit which extendsfrom lead |31 through switch arm |38, contact |33, recorder I3 and the lead |35. The circuit to the upper recorder I3 of Fig. 17 will be broken between the contacts |39 and |4I. The lower reproducer I4 will be connected to the input of the reproducing amplifier through leads |45 and |52 and switch contacts |49 and I5| of the switch |50.

If the handle is moved `in a clockwise direction from the central position, the circuit to the upper recorder I3 and reproducer I4 will be completed by contacts |38, |32, |48 and I5|, respectively. With the handle in this position the lower recorder I3 and the reproducer I4 will be disconnected from the recording and reproducing amplifiers.

The elements to the right of the dashed line A--A in Fig. 17 may be conveniently mounted within the side walls and 2 of the housing while the elements to the left of the line A-A of Fig. 17 may be conveniently mountedat any desired remote point or points, the switch |55,

the shaft 92 for operating the switches |34, |40

and |43 is mounted in brackets 00 and 3| parallel to the shaft 23 and connected to said shaft by the arms |59 and |50 and the link ISI. The switch arms |33, |394 and |42 may be mounted in alinement upon the shaft 92, from which they may be' insulated in any conventional manner. The insulating supporting plates for the fixed contacts of the switches |34, |40 and |43 may be mounted in any desired manner, as by a bar |52 secured to thebrackets 00 and The toggle switch |50 may conveniently be mounted upon the bracket in a position wherein the operating arm I| is adapted to be operated by the forked lever 53 mounted on the shaft 23. y

, The operation of the multi-unit sound recorder and sound reproducer herein described is as follows: Assuming that the motor 22 is'in operation andI that the handle 20 has been Lmoved to its right-hand position, the driving roller |1 of -the right-hand unit shown in Fig. 2 will be connected Ato the shaft 5I and the circuits shown in Fig. 17 will be completed as hereinbefore described to connect the recorder and reproducer of that unit tothe recording and reproducing amplifiers. The film 20 is drawn by the friction driving roller I1 VV.Ifromthe-inner en'd of the loop of the reel and returned to the outer end and passes intermediately across the surface of the recording anvil I5.X The tension roller I6, along which lthe film passes from` the take-oil' idler roller and fromit passes to the `recording anvil I5, provides the necessary and adjustable degree of longitudinal tension required for the proper feeding and embossing of the film. The handle |01 having been operated to lift the member |03, the recording stylus vibrates laterally of the fllm within the groove |06 to emboss the illm with a track'of sound varying in accordance with the sound variations to which the microphone |59 is subjected. The film 20 in passing downwardly around the driving roller engages the needle of the reproducer |4 to cause the same to vibrate in accordance with the variations previously embossed upon the illm by the recorder I3. 'I'he complete reel of lm having been passed once beneath the recording stylus to complete one track, the notch |22 will reach the pin |28 to permit the change-over mechanism to operate as previously described to shift the recording stylus and support member |03 laterally of the film the desired predetermined distance between sound tracks. During this shifting operation, the recording stylus embosses a portion of sound track between the rst track and the second paralled track to which the recorder is moving. The indicator 21 is simultaneously rotated to indicate |55 will connect the reproducing amplifier to the' load resistor |58 and disconnect it from the loud speaker.

By adjustment of the cap screw 60, the reprol ducer I4 may be shifted relatively to the recorder I3 to repeat'from any or, in succession, all of the previously recorded sound tracks.

With the handle 26 moved to its'central vertical position, both recorders I3 will be connected to the recording amplier and that reproducing amplifier which is associated with the previously operating recorder will also be connected to the reproducing amplifier.l This simultaneous operation of the recorders makes it possibleA to shift from one reel, upon which a recording is being completed, to a second 4reel on which the recordlng is to be initiated without loss of sound, thereby insuring an accurate and complete record of all proceedingsl desired to be recorded. This is of especial significance in connection with the reporting'of the proceedings before a court of law. The recording of one reel having been completed, the handle 20 is then moved from its central position to the position wherein only the unit associated with the fresh reel will be connected for operation. 'I'he completed reel may then be removed from the now inoperative -unit and replaced by a new reel at any time during the operation of the other unit.

Thus it will be seen from the above description that applicant has provided a multi-unit, continuous-reel recorder and reproducer of simplified and inexpensive construction possessing .numerous advantages. f

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement o f the parts without departing from the 'spirit of the invention or sacricing any of its advantages, and the fright is hereby reserved to make all such changes asv fairly fall within the scope of the following'claims.

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ing member,a movable recorder, and means for.

moving said recorder and said supporting member' transversely of the dim whereby said recorder is adapted tol form a plurality of parallel sod traclrs upon said film.

2. in a device forrecordine sound on a moving hlm, the combination of a stationary fil supporting base over which said film travels, va recorder having a recordinsr stylus enses-:lng the i upper face of the movinp dim, said recorder beina mounted for reciprocation transversely. of said al a film supporting member mounted upon said base for reciprocating movement transversely of said base and nlm for maintaining said m in eriaageinentI with said recording stylus and means for moi/lne said dim supporting member and said recorder' step-by-step transversely of said film whereby said recorder is adapted to form upon said nlm a plurality of parallel sound traclrs.

li. lin the combination of claim 2 wherein means are provided for moving the recording,r stylus laterally of said film together with means asso. elated with said stylus for embossing on said iilm undulatory grooves representative of vibrations of sound and wherein the recording stylus is in contact with said film as it is moved laterally so as to form undulatory arooves connecting said parallel sound traclrs.

in a device for recordine sound on a moving dim, the combination of a stationary nlm directiria and'supportiner base, means for i'eediner said film over said base', a recorder enaaglng the free face of said iilm and mounted for movement transversely of -said film, a movable film supportinu member slidably mounted on said base for movement transversely of said film and engageable therewith opposite the point of engagement of the hlm with the recorder and means operated by said film for simultaneously moving said recorder and said film supportingr member step by step transversely of said dim whereby said recorder is adapted to form upon said vhun a continuous, undulatory sound groove having paraldit 'iii

lei portions and portions connecting said parallei portions. l

ii. lin a device for recording' sound on a moving nlm, thecombination of a stationary dim supportine base, a recorder slidably mounted upon said base, means for moving said hlm between said base and said recorder, a roller member enaagine said nlm, means for rotating said roller for tensioning the dim, change-over mechanism for moving said recorder step by step transversely of said hlm, means operated by the nlm for connectine said chanac-over mechanism in drive relation with said roller member and means associated with said'last-mentioned means for operating said mechanism upon completion of a sound traclr by said recorder to thereby form upon said iilm a plurality of parallel sound traclrs. v

d, lin a device for recordina sound on a morfina film, the combination of a stationary hlm, supportina base, a recorder siidably mounted uponv said base, means for movine said film between said base and said recorder, a rollermember enaaaina said hlm, means for rotating said roller for tensioningr said nlm change-over mechanism for moving said recorder step by step transversely oi said nlm, means operated bythe nlm ior connectiniy raid chanac-over mechanism in drive relation with said tensioning means, means associated with said last-mentioned means for operating said mechanism upon completion of a sound tract: by said recorder to thereby form uponsaid nlm a plurality of parallel sound tracks, and

means connected to said change-over mechanism and operated thereby for provig a numerical indication of the sound traclr upon which lthe recorder is operation.

7. ln a device for recording sound upon a continuous reel of film, the lcombination of a film supporting base, a recorder slidably mounted upon said base, a friction drive roller for feedine nim from said reel over said supporting base beneath said recorder and baci'. to said reel, a pressure roller for maintaining said film in eneaeement with said friction roller, a tension roller in advance of said supporting base and havina a friction face enaac'ing said dim, a support upon which said tension roller is rotatably mounted, friction means interposed between and encasine said support and said tension roller, means for adjusting said tension roller relative tosaid friction means to retard the rotation of said roller to thereby longitudinally tension the hdm, and change-over mechanism operated by said tension roller for movinev said recorder transversely of said hlm whereby said recorder is adapted to form upon said film a plurality of parallel sound traclrs.

d. lin the combination of lClaim. il wherein the recorder comprises Va recording stylus in encasement with the free'face of the and wherein the film eneaeina face of the movable supportinc member is` provided with a pair of intersecting grooves within which the stylus is adapted to operate to emboss the undulatory grooves upon the iilm. l

b. ln a device for recording sound upon a rotatable reel of nlm, the combination of a dried support comprising a film supporting portion, said support having a slot. extendina transversely thereof and a transverse openina therein in communication with said slot, a movable support comprising a laterally eirtendine tubular portion slidably received within said openina, an opstandine mountina portion and a aulde portion estendine throuah said slot and 'connecties said tubular portion and said mountiny portion, a cam rotatably mounted within said tubular portion, a cam follower engaging said cam and slidably received within anotch formed in said tubular portion in reeistry with the slot in the ed support, said follower bovina a dat upper face d a eroove formed therein, a sound recorder havina a deperidinp,r recorder stylus, means for diredly securinsr said recorder to the opstanding mountina por-A tionv of said movable support with its recordina stylus overlying the dini and in alinement with the prouve formed in the upper face of the c follower, means for rotatina the cam to raise and lower said follower to cause thelfilm to engage said stylus and means operated by the morfina upon completion of each rotation of the reel for morfina the movable support and the recorder transversely of said vnim. to thereby form upon the a plurality of successive parallel sound tracirs.

lo. lin a sound recordeu, a stationary support, a continuous reel of nlm rotatably mounted on said support, arecorder supported by said stationary support in horizontal alignment with said reel of film for ,forming upon said fllrn a record representative of sound vibrations, and means for nlm from the inside of said reel ddl iii

liti

'to said recorder and back to the outside of said reel, said recorder and feeding means being resiliently mounted upon said support and within said reel of film, so as to pass lm from said reel to said g, /recorder in substantially the plane of said reel.

11. In a devicefor recording sound on a moving film, the combination of a iilm supporting base. a recorder slidably mounted upon said base, a reel oi' film, and driving means within said reel w of film for feeding film from said reei over said 12. In a device for recording sound upon a continuous reel of film, the combination of a film supporting base, a recorder slidably mounted 15 upon said base, driving means within said reel for feeding film fromXsaid reel over said supporting base beneath said recorder and back to said reel, a tension roller in advance of said supporting base and having a friction face engaging said 20 film, a support upon which said tension roller is rotatably mounted, friction means interposed. between and engaging said support and said tcn` sion roller, means for adjusting said tension roller relativeto said friction means to retard therotation of said roller to thereby longitudinally tension the film, a change-over mechanism operated by said tension roller for moving said recorder transversely of said film whereby said recorder is adapted to form upon said nlm. a plurality of parallel sound tracks.

13. In a device for recording sound on a moving film, the combination'of a movable film supporting member, amovable recorder equipped with a v said anvil relative to said nlm.

HARLD J. 

